by CPF363
KSmitty wrote: ↑Sat Apr 25, 2020 5:40 pm Much of the rail east of Old Town is indeed old and light. 85# rail with stamp dates from then end of WWI are common. Crossings rebuilt by DoT have either 100# or 112-115# with considerably newer milling dates. Tie wise, the line is in pretty good shape, half the ties half been replaced in 2 tie jobs done in 2012/fall and 2016/fall. Road bed wise some spots need significant amounts of rock, but all in all the limiting factor on the line is certainly the rail.Could Pan Am consider recycling all of its old rail for new welded rail at a reduced price? There are 24 miles on the Madison Branch, 19 more on the Bucksport Branch and the northern end of the Mountain Division in Vermont is roughly 25 or so more in addition to miscellaneous sections of broken rail throughout the system along with the rail on the line today mentioned above could be picked up and sent to a rail producer and returned back to the Keag line in the form of new welded rail. True, they would have to finance its removal and shipment costs but may save the money on related production costs for new welded rail. Could it be possible to get a few welded rail trains out of all of the discarded scrap?
Old Town to NMJ actually got some welded rail. Surplus from the initial Downeaster rebuild if memory serves. It's about 20 years old now, but the roadbed/tie conditions have beat it up pretty good. It's at least newer and heavier so it holds up better to the beating.
KSmitty wrote: ↑Sat Apr 25, 2020 5:40 pmThe line to 'Keag appears to have been spared from the scrappers grasp about a month ago.Did the MEC formally request to abandon the line with the STB?